New From Hi Fi Jewelry

What can you do with a bunch of colored records and plastic charms? Make a crazy necklace full of color and charms.
Check it out straight from Hi Fi Jewelry.

Upcyle vs. Recycle

What is the difference between upcycling and recycling? Both are great for the environment but there is a distinct difference.

• Wikipedia defines upcycling as the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" waste hierarchy.

The Top 10 Album Covers of All Time

I so remember getting a new album and even before I could play that awesome tune I had to check out every inch of the cover. I still love the thrill of seeing the artistic and bazaar creations that go into a cover. Hi Fi has recently started using album covers in it's jewelry (pics to surface soon) so on that note here is an article I found about the top ten album covers of all time.
P.S. I find that whipped cream girl cover all the time.

To find out what the top album covers of all time the non profit Vinyl Record Day (VRD) sought out public opinion rather than a panel of judges. Tallying submissions received through the VRD web site and radio stations around the US, the results were as diverse as the art form itself. Hundreds of titles were named. The Top Ten below represent one definite conclusion of the poll; it proved once more art is in the eye of the beholder.

Considering there were hundreds of titles submitted it's a little surprising a top vote getter did surface, but the Beatles Sgt. Pepper led all others as the top album cover of all time. Proving record sales aren't a factor when it comes to appreciating cover art, the next highest vote went to Herb Alpert's, Whipped Cream and Other Delights. The Beatles sold over 11 million copies of their record; Herb's sold just 500,000 copies. Yet ask a solidly Baby Boomer male to name a couple of all time favorite album covers and you can bet you'll see that gleam in the eye as you hear a tale of the girl in whipped cream long before you hear about those Beatle jackets.

As a group, multiple titles in the catalog of Journey and the Stones ranked high in having some of the best cover art. Journey's Escape cover with the bolting sun ship was a favorite as was the group's Evolution cover. The Stones, the only music artists with two LP covers in the top ten had Sticky Fingers, Tattoo You, and Their Satanic Majesty's Request named as some of the group's best cover art work.

Other group's whose catalog was recognized for its cover art work are Led Zeppelin, Rush, and Queen. Other Beatle favorites named include Revolver, Rubber Soul and the anti cover, the Beatles White Album.

Though Rock ruled, voters did not limit their choices to this single genre or era. Jazz great Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew", with its strange flow of bright colors turning into faces was a favorite as were the dark and sultry covers for Henry Mancini's Mr. Lucky and Peter Gunn soundtracks. Also cited as among the best covers of all time were the Classical music album covers of the father of Album Cover Art, Alex Steinweiss.

With selections by orchestra leaders such as Acquavira, Al Sack and Bob Hurd, the poll showed an artist's or group's popularity was not a factor in selecting the greatest album covers of all time. Poetic titles weren't required either as Frank Zappa's Weasels' Ripped My Flesh, Hair of the Dog from Nazareth, and Best Dressed Chicken in Town from Dr. Alimantado were also named as best album covers.

Oddities were popular as the paper panties of Alice Cooper's School Out, the unusual shaped covers of the Stones, Traffic and others, and Jimi Hendrix' harem of topless beauties on the European release of Electric Ladyland, a cover banned in the US, were all submitted as aficionado favorites.

Honorable Mentions; great album covers not forgotten include Frank Sinatra's In the Wee Small Hours and daughter Nancy's Boots with the controversial linear notes. Santana's Abraxax, Art Crum's cartoon cover on Janis Joplin's Cheap Thrills, London Calling, the Clash's updated version of the first Elvis album cover were deemed among the classics of Album Cover Art. Jimi Hendrix, Iron Maiden and Journey received "Any of them" votes. Lounge covers as represented by the Jackie Gleason covers of hot blondes with cigarettes and martinis were a favorite genre as well as the YES covers of Roger Dean.

Many voters went beyond just listing their favorite LP covers as the personal connection to their nominations was significant to why the selections were made. Participants cited remembering carefully placing the new gleaming black record on the turntable then analyzing for hours with great fascination the covers that were shining examples of visual art. Other voters made their selections entirely on emotion; they were favorites because of the link to exact moments in one's life; what they were doing, where they were or who they were with when they first saw the covers, an experience completely separate from listening to the music.

Whether we relate a personal experience to it or not, the art form uniquely portrayed who we were, we saw ourselves reflected back to ourselves in ways that no other medium could attempt. With limitless creative boundaries Album Cover Art depicted fifty years of each era's fashion, life styles and social values. Rembrandt, not the group, would be proud.

How to Make a Vinyl Record

Collections

I come from a long line of collectors. My mother collected antiques and China cups, my Aunt collects antiques and kitchen items and my Sister collects a little bit of everything. My collections range from vintage orange kitchen items to table lighters (at last count I had over 350). But one of my favorite collections is also my hobby and that is taking pics of vintage neon signs.

It started along with the start of my relationship to my husband. Almost 14 years ago my husband and I had been dating for about a month when we decided to take a vacation together to Yellowstone. Now this could have really been a breaking point as we had not known each other that long and it is a wicked long drive to Montana (and I tend to talk a lot). But thankfully it turned out to be one of my favorite trips of all time. We camped in Yellowstone for almost a week, saw amazing wildlife and sites and fell in love. This October we will celebrate 12 years of marriage and we have 2 amazing kids to show for it.

So how does sign picture taking work into this you say? Well, on our trip we stopped in a small qaint town in Colorado a little over half way to Yellowstone. We stayed at a motel from the 50's and took a drive around the small town to take in the local culture. All around this town were the most amazing vintage neon signs including our hotel. My very patient, one day husband, would pull over so I could get of a pic of these amazing historical signs and I was hooked.

Years later I never get tired of collecting these pictures of creative artistic signs. I have taken pictures from Canada to Texas and anywhere I can in between. This is a picture I took this week of a lovely sign (especially since it has orange in it) in Dallas, Texas.
Enjoy

3rd Annual Jingle Bash

Yes, it's that time again. Time to get your shopping on at the one and only Jingle Bash. Dallas' premier shopping event that includes a make your own craft, music, cocktails and top local designers. Get all your Christmas shopping done in one place or heck, shop for yourself (you know you will).

Hi Fi Jewelry will be showcasing our new line of baubles made from recycled album covers. Need a stand out necklace for New Years? Or something unusual and Earth friendly for that someone special? You got it at Hi Fi Jewelry.

When: Saturday, November 20 2pm to 8pm
Where: The Palladium, Dallas
Cost: FREE